City comparison
No. El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 150 in Jacksonville, and its violent crime index is 88 versus 155, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
El Paso is cheaper. Median rent is $1,073 a month versus $1,465 in Jacksonville.
Safety is where Jacksonville and El Paso split most clearly. El Paso scores 63 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,465 in Jacksonville and $1,073 in El Paso.
This is a genuine split. Jacksonville wins on the job market and El Paso wins on cost of living and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. El Paso at $1,073 average has pockets that run $873 and others at $1,473: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Jacksonville and El Paso are 1,470 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,465 a month in Jacksonville to $1,073 a month in El Paso, down $392 a month (27%).
Median household income goes from $69,872 in Jacksonville to $59,745 in El Paso, down $10,127 (14%).
The crime index goes from 150 in Jacksonville to 87 in El Paso, down 63 points (42%).
The move
El Paso and Jacksonville are 1,470 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,073 a month in El Paso to $1,465 a month in Jacksonville, up $392 a month (37%).
Median household income goes from $59,745 in El Paso to $69,872 in Jacksonville, up $10,127 (17%).
The crime index goes from 87 in El Paso to 150 in Jacksonville, up 63 points (72%).
Jacksonville, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
El Paso, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Jacksonville and El Paso? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
27% cheaper
El Paso rent is 27% cheaper than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
$1,465/mo
El Paso
Winner$1,073/mo
Typical rent runs $1,073 a month in El Paso versus $1,465 in Jacksonville, so El Paso is 27% cheaper. That's roughly $392/month back in your pocket ($4,704/year). Over five years that's $23,520 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Jacksonville, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, El Paso is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in El Paso? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
17% higher
Jacksonville's median income is 17% higher than El Paso
Jacksonville
Winner$69,872
El Paso
$59,745
Median household income is $69,872 in Jacksonville versus $59,745 in El Paso, so typical pay runs 17% higher in Jacksonville (about $10,127 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Jacksonville is the stronger labor market on paper. El Paso can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
42% lower crime
El Paso's crime index is 42% lower than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
150 (100 = avg)
El Paso
Winner87 (100 = avg)
El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 150 in Jacksonville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 42% lower in El Paso. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, El Paso is the easier city. Jacksonville can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Jacksonville and El Paso are about even on typical weather.
Jacksonville
79°F avg · 86°F highs · comfort 100/100
El Paso
72°F avg · 79°F highs · comfort 100/100
Jacksonville averages about 79°F (86°F highs); El Paso averages about 72°F (79°F highs). Jacksonville sits near 79°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. El Paso sits near 72°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Jacksonville is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 17% higher here ($69,872). Start with Jacksonville if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
El Paso is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 27% cheaper here at about $1,073 a month. Choose El Paso if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
El Paso is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 42% lower than Jacksonville (87 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
Safety is the widest gap: El Paso scores 64/100 versus 48/100 in Jacksonville. Rent is $1,073/month in El Paso and $1,465/month in Jacksonville, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Jacksonville still pays more locally ($69,872 median income vs $59,745), which can offset the lease if your field pays Jacksonville rates.
Median income is $69,872 in Jacksonville versus $59,745 in El Paso.
El Paso is ahead on safety (64/100 vs 48/100); Jacksonville is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,465/month rent plus $69,872 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
Ready to move to El Paso?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for El Paso when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Jacksonville and El Paso, plus other cities in FL and TX.
